Thompson inquired about N.C. dental bill

A Bloomberg Businessweek story provides some detail on the involvement of former governor Tommy Thompson, now a candidate for the U.S. Senate, regarding a bill being heard in the North Carolina legislature that would toughen regulations affecting dental-management companies.

According to the story, the North Carolina bill would place new rules on dental management companies. Those companies have been funded in large part by private equity firms. According to Bloomberg Businessweek, private equity firms have "bought or put money into at least 25 dental-management companies in the last decade."

As to Thompson's involvement, the story says Thompson, who has significant holdings in health-care companies as well as private-equity firms, tried to get in contact with Thom Tillis, the speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives. But the two didn't connect, according to the story.

Thompson spokesman Brian Nemoir said Thompson called Tillis to learn more about the bill.

"He has not formed a position on the legislation and he has no financial stake it in," Nemoir said in an email.

The Bloomberg Businessweek story notes that Thompson is an operating partner with MTS Health Investors, a New York-based private-equity firm specializing in health care. What connection that has with the North Carolina bill was not made clear.

Thompson's involvement with MTS Health Investors is not noted on his Senate financial disclosure form.